Wout Gooris Trio & Chisholm/Vann - Some Time (2018)

Wout Gooris has an instinct for tranquility. His 2016 release voor Jef was music made for the first moments of morning, when the sun is just shaking the sleep from its eyes, and a calm hush hangs over the world. Album opener “Fata Morgana” is a gentle sigh of melody, as comforting as it is serene, but from there, Some Time expands into livelier forms of expression, and sparks with life and busyness. Aiding that transformation is the addition of saxophonists Hayden Chisholm and Erwin Vann. And while the melodic textures they bring to the session are enchanting, it’s their harmonic contributions that give this music a greater presence than Gooris’s previous offering. It’s a welcome change, and brings to light facets only hinted at on voor Jef. It’s something best represented on the album finale “Lullaby,” the way the tune escalates from a familiar tranquility up to a temperature with enough heat to burn.

1. Fata Morgana 04:30

2. 't Wout 05:36

3. Rêver 08:10

4. Earthlings 06:52

5. Chant 07:11

6. Close 05:51

7. Open 06:31

8. Lullaby 05:00

Hayden Chisholm - Alto Saxophone

Erwin Vann - Tenor Saxophone

Wout Gooris - Piano & Compositions

Nathan Wouters - Double Bass

Stijn Cools - Drums

Recorded by Ted Masseurs at Audioworkx on July 8 & 9, 2016 

Mixed by Stijn Cools 

Mastered by Uwe Teichert at Elektropolis 

Artwork by Stefaan Claeys aka Stanley Casfea 

Graphic Design by Marie Sledsens

Mephiti - Mephiti (EL NEGOCITO RECORDS 2018)

For his band Mephiti, Bogaerts can depend on guitarists Bert Cools and Ruben Machtelinckx, two exponents of a generation of string adepts who have worked themselves beyond the classic examples that elaborate on the blues. The sharpness of Bert Cools, on semi-acoustic and electric guitar, and the thoughtful and recognizable playing of Machtelinckx (electric) form a stream of dreamy, lyrical sounds, with the occasional strong outburst. Complemented with the klanklės handled by Lithuanian musician Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė, it becomes a thick varied abundance, where regularly hints of folk traditions pour through. The rustling game of drummer Stijn Cools gives it all a wayward edge.

1. Shilly 03:22

2. Hymne I 05:49

3. Hanneke 04:24

4. Krevelstraat 07:55

5. Hymne II 09:07

6. Lenaé 03:56

7. Oude steenweg 04:25

8. Kat kreupel 04:37

Erik Bogaerts - Alto Saxophone

Ruben Machtelinckx - Guitar

Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė - Kantele [kanklės]

Bert Cools - Guitar & Synth

Brice Soniano - Double Bass

Stijn Cools - Drums